May 2023 Reads

I was in a rut until I wasn't - testing out some reader memoir titles. 

Anyway May reads: 

Engrossing Reads

Our Place on the Island by Erika Montgomery - I loved this book, the setting, and everyone in it. It hit at the right time and pulled me out of a slump! Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes June 27

Every Summer After by Carley Fortune - Yes, I finally read this after it sat on my shelf for over a year. I loved it! Not my typical but what I needed at the time. Paperback, own, put up in shore house rental library

Zero Days by Ruth Ware - Yes, this is a Ruth Ware up in the engrossing category and yes it's me writing this. You are not in the wrong place. I liked this! That’s saying a lot for me and Ruth Ware books. Quick read with good pacing - the why behind it was a little out of my grasp but I enjoyed the telling of it and really liked Jack Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, this book comes out June 27

The Summer House by James Patterson, Brendan DuBois - A quick down and dirty read, which I expect and rely on from the co-authored James Patterson books. Used paperback, own

Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune - I had no expectations of this so I was pleased at how much I liked it. I skimmed a few reviews after I was done and man romance readers are fucking harsh critics. OCNJ library hard cover

Passed the Time Just Fine

Where Echoes Die by Courtney Gould - Unexpected throughout, it reminded me a little of the Blake Crouch Wayward Pines trilogy but younger. I enjoyed Gould's writing like I did with her first novel. Not liking Beck or Avery or Riley made this one a little harder but still a good story. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes June 20

River Sing Me Home by Eleanor Shearer - Whew, a difficult read because of the subject matter of course. The pacing is rough here - very slow with a lot of inconvenient plot action in the first 2/3 and quick to close the last third but the writing is good as is the story and the main character.  OCNJ library hardcover

Little Monsters by Adrienne Brodeur - Family drama but make it clever-I liked delving into this family a lot. I knew nothing about the book going in except the name and the setting and it did not disappoint.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Book publishes June 27

The Quiet Tenant by Clemence Michallon - People tend to hate second person books. I am not one of them. This was a lot to process and stressful AF though. What would you do to stay alive. Unhinged shit, unimaginable. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Book publishes June 20

Close Her Eyes (Detective Josie Quinn #17) by Lisa Regan - This book! I am not recovered. One of my favorite series has punched me in the stomach. If you have read it, PM me or email me. It's not for public discussion LOL Kindle, own - I always pre-order books in this series

The Island Sisters by Micki Bethelot Morency - Abuse is a difficult subject matter no matter how you look at it, and this book has its share - this was really well done and not gratuitous. I appreciate the simultaneously delicate and powerful writing and the deep family by choice female friendships and resilience in this novel. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes June 20

What Remains by Wendy Walker - The lunacy of this woman throughout and the reckless choices. I kept reading to figure out WTF was happening, which is in itself a draw? Some of the connections were tenuous at best. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

The Only Survivors by Megan Miranda - Standard Megan Miranda fare with some interesting takes and twists. I rolled through this. OCNJ library hardcover

Not For Me/Did Not Finish

The Girls of Summer by Katie Bishop - Rachel is difficult to like. Not going out and recommending it, but it did make me think about how memory actually operates. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes June 6

The Night it Ended by Katie Garner - The story idea is good and I really liked the interview/transcript interspersed in chapters. I probably hit this book at the wrong time in an it's not you, it's me scenario - I'm over unreliable female narrators, and Madeline in particular was extremely hard to get any sort of grasp on. It was also repetitive up front to make SURE we knew she was unreliable.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes June 27

What the Neighbors Saw by Melissa Adelman - Unlikeable main characters, a Desperate Housewives vibe, and slower pacing made this one tough for me. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Book publishes June 20

Save What's Left by Elizabeth Castellano - DNF. I could not with the main character, like for even 15 minutes. Free advanced copy from Netgalley, returned without feedback

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Happy happy birthday to KVSR today!

What have you been reading?